Building trust in city government
When it comes to national politics, it’s clear that Americans have a trust issue, with only 20 percent of them currently indicating they trust government “always” or “most of the time.” At the same time, when Americans overall are asked to only consider their local governments, 70 percent still indicate they can trust local government “a great deal” or “a fair amount.”
It doesn’t feel that way here in Baltimore, however, where distrust in our government and institutions plagued primary candidates and foddered concerns over the accuracy of the electoral results. Then there’s the sex-for-Housing-Authority-repairs scandal and the questionable City Council committee meeting attendance records. Far too many residents can also recount a time city government has come up short for them at an individual level — whether it be for big issues like policing in their communities or small issues like trash pickup.
Scholars and political observers typically point to factors such as poor economic conditions, negative evaluations of individual politicians or political institutions, and political scandal as causes of the decline in public trust. When only these factors are considered, it suggests that citizens have little agency in improving their levels of trust in their government. But what if public trust isn’t just a result of politicians’ actions, but our own — our relationships with neighbors and participation in civic life? In other words, it’s our collective disengagement from the benefit of social reciprocity that perhaps compounds our inability to trust the institutions and individuals that govern us. Therefore, if residents want a city government they can trust, they must become active participants in city life.
The first step to becoming active participants is learning the core functions and players of city government. It seems counter-intuitive, but Americans are less knowledgeable about local affairs — the politics closest to our daily lives — than they are about the goings-on of national politics. If you don’t believe it, ask a few of your neighbors to identify who represents them on the Baltimore City Council. (The City Council candidates who won handily in their respective primaries this year — Brandon Scott, John Bullock, Shannon Sneed and Eric Costello among them — demonstrated through their record and campaign platforms they were worthy of public trust, by the way.)
At the very basic level, all residents should know how to address common neighborhood irritations, such as garbage strewn about the local park, instances of property crime, or an abandoned mattress lingering on the street. Taking the time to appropriately report community problems — whether directly to the correct government office, elected city official or simply the 311 app — is an easy way for residents to do their part in building public trust. Collective and consistent interaction with our government and neighbors will result in better local governance, the tried and true “if you see something, say something.”
Local politics provides a unique opportunity for citizens to be partners in public trust. For example, my husband and I recently became members of our neighborhood association. In just a few monthly meetings and gatherings, we have learned an incredible amount about city services and the concerns we share with our neighbors. These meetings are also attended by our councilman, other governmental representatives and members of the Baltimore City Police Department.
City residents should go on a Citizens on Patrol (COP) walk. I participated last April and learned public safety tips and crime stats, and met many of the officers who work in the Southern District. It allowed me to put a face and name to those who patrol my neighborhood — familiarity is undoubtedly a precursor to trust. And, we certainly have an important role to play in supporting community policing.
The best thing about improving public trust though building social capital is that it’s actually enjoyable. Attend a community event and get to know your neighbors socially; they are likely better people than their street parking skills suggest. The opportunity to interact and learn with my neighbors has greatly improved my sense of local political efficacy, resulting in my increased trust in Baltimore City government.
Baltimore’s neighborhood-baseddensely populated, geography already facilitates engagement in civic life. You don’t need to travel far or have an abundance of resources to engage in local politics. Opportunities for trust building are usually found a few blocks away.